A military man can scarcely pride himself on having smitten a sleeping enemy; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. Isoroku Yamamoto

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I felt from the start that America was not likely to relinquish lightly positions established at the cost of such sacrifices, and I pressed the view that a high degree of preparation and willingness to make sacrifices would be necessary on our side, but everybody here always persists in facile optimism until the very worst actually happens. -Isoroku Yamamoto

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Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. We would have to march into Washington and sign the treaty in the White House. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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I was once the captain of Akagi, and it is with heartfelt regret that I must now order that she be sunk. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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I sincerely desire to be appointed Commander in Chief of the air fleet to attack Pearl Harbor so that I may personally command that attack force. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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Unless more efforts based upon long-range planning are put into military preparations and operations, it will be very hard to win the final victory. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward & learning to enjoy whatever life has and this requires transforming greed into gratitude. ― John Chrysostom

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Never tell anyone outside my staff that the Submarine Force and the First Air Fleet were responsible for the failure at Midway. The failure at Midway was mine. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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A man of real purpose puts his faith in himself always. Sometimes he refuses even to put his faith in the gods. So from time to time, he falls into error. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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